1976 Ice Cream Truck Conversion

1976 Ice Cream Truck Conversion

We are very close to getting busy on our build. This truck will be a mobile cafe (with a lot of help from Roadfood threads!) hopefully before we know it! It's definatly a smaller truck (14' bumper to bumper) so, that's a lot of fun planning the kitchen layout. We have all of our equiptment at this point, logo and web design are underway and I've been shopping out sinks and other needs. Purchased Eccotemp L10, Shurflo 4008 and 16gal fresh water tank today. Truck runs decent but it will be going into the shop for some work asap.

Place your curser over the photo you want to post,a drop down will show,one of the choices will be post to a web page(I think),copy the link go to here a do a message and paste the link.The photo should show up.

curbhopper- i love your truck man - cool retro style! keep that top sign -unless you want to sell it to me!

Thanks, we searched for a long time trying to find this thing! The retro look is what we were hoping for so I appreciate you recognizing that. That style is very played out these days so we are working hard to be as classic as we can. Logo and web design just got underway. I wish I could figure out how to post pics....I'd share some logo inspiration!

Cute Truck! I hear you on the small size. And I thought I had it bad, my truck is 16' bumper to bumper. :)

It's very difficult especially for a first timer like me! This site has been invaluable, there is tons of info/advice, I just wish some of the members were not such search nazis. This is a difficult forum to navigate at times but building this truck takes the cake. My kitchen is 88" x 69" (7'-4" x 5'-9") " />

Cute Truck! I hear you on the small size. And I thought I had it bad, my truck is 16' bumper to bumper. :)

It's very difficult especially for a first timer like me! This site has been invaluable, there is tons of info/advice, I just wish some of the members were not such search nazis. This is a difficult forum to navigate at times but building this truck takes the cake. My kitchen is 88" x 69" (7'-4" x 5'-9") " />

I highly suggest taping out or using cardboard cutouts within your space to represent your counters, equipment, etc. If you can set the actual items inside without actually installing them, all the better Then move around as if you were cooking and serving. If you are planning to have more than just yourself in there, have someone else in there with you. Imagine your storage, your cash box, etc. Will each of you have everything you need for your respective roles in reach or will you be tripping over one another crossing paths. Take personal preference into consideration as well. If you have to turn to listen to someone, do you prefer to look left or right. I'm hard of hearing in my right ear, so it was important for me to have my left side toward my order taker and customers as much as possible.

I spent many hours working with layout to come up with what I think is a very efficient layout that will allow me to manage by myself, and allow me to have up to four of us inside (two order takers, one prep and one cook). One other thing to note if you are doing something where you will be busier than normal and need extra space, an order taker can stand outside freeing up room for prep inside.

Started to gut the inside (was old and not close to code) and got it in the shop (within budget so far). The "relic" as it has been refererd to is in really good shape mechanically and phisically which is great news. I looked it over pretty well before purchasing but you don't know for sure sometimes until you get it up in the air.

Love this little truck!! Had to register to tell you. I like nostalgia theme too. I've got a little truck the same size, but I'm still doing mechanical resto on it. Do you have an interior layout mapped out yet? Keep up with the pics if you can! Paul

Thank you. We are fond of the truck too! I am hoping that the uniqueness will help attract followers. The food business is much more than just food these days, people need to feel like they are getting their dollars worth so creating that along with the other success factors is our mindset. Yes, we have the kitchen layout mapped, just need to execute the plan now (the hard part).

CH - Wow that is tiny, your trial run on the fryer looked good how did they taste. I love the retro look to with the rattle can red and white. Cant wait to see your graphics too. Keep up the great work.

We used to run a few IH MA-1500 step vans that we bought at the Table Talk Pie bankruptcy. (TTP has long been back in biz with new owners). I still see a few on the road. The V8 was a gas hog, but the 6 would be a great truck, even by today's standards if it had a dual breaking system. Only a lack of parts lead to its end. The Olsen/Grumman line of vans (like yours) was the gold standard for years, but unlike IH which was a truck builder that put bodies on their own frames, the Grumman product was built by a body builder who put bodies on other guy's frames, so Grumman was beholdin to the truck makers. I don't know who the leader is today, but I see a lot of Dodge/Mercedes/Freightliner Sprinter vans. I note that the older ones are rusting, and yours , being aluminium never will. I also hear that after the warranty period, the Sprinters get expensive to keep on the road, as is the diesel version of the new Ford super duty line.